NEWSBRIEFS

ILOILO CITY

Tricycle fare hike

Tricycle fare rates in Iloilo City will increase by P1 from P6.50 to P7.50 this month after the city council approved a petition of tricycle drivers.

Councilor R. Leone Gerochi, chair of the committee on energy, public utilities and transportation, said the council noted the continued increase in prices of oil products in its decision.

“Their request is reasonable considering that the last increase in tricycle fares was implemented in 2005,” Gerochi said in a phone interview on Sunday. The increase will cover at least 1,400 tricycles.

The new rates will take effect three days after the publication of the ordinance in a newspaper in the city. Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Inquirer Visayas

MAASIN CITY

2 held for shabu

Two persons who promised not to get involved in the illegal drugs trade anymore were arrested on Wednesday after they were found to be carrying 40 sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), police said.

Jay-R Mercedes and Rodulfo Cadavero were arrested inside a van in Barangay (village) Combado at 12 noon.

Police also recovered two mobile phones and P1,300 in cash. Jani Arnaiz, Inquirer Visayas

MASBATE

Soldier hurt in clash

A soldier was wounded and two firearms were recovered in separate encounters in Sorsogon and Masbate in less than 24 hours, an Army official said.

Government troops recovered two firearms in an encounter with communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Palanas, Masbate, on Friday, said Major Angelo Guzman, spokesperson of the 9th Infantry Division.

Earlier, a soldier was wounded in a clash between seven NPA guerrillas and troops belonging to the 49th Infantry Battalion in Barcelona, Sorsogon, Guzman said.

Private First Class Ariel Matutina suffered a bullet wound in his left arm during the 15-minute fire fight at around 2:45 p.m. in Barangay (village) San Ramon.

Soldiers recovered an improvised bomb, two triggering devices, electrical wires, four small batteries, a cell phone and antigovernment documents. Shiena M. Barrameda, Inquirer Southern Luzon

CALAMBA CITY

4 slain in shoot-out

Four robbers were killed by policemen in a predawn encounter in Calamba City in Laguna on Friday.

The lawmen were tipped off by a concerned citizen shortly after the four held up a woman at the bus terminal in Barangay (village) Turbina at 2:44 a.m. and took the service firearm of the bus company’s security guard identified as Emmanuel dela Cruz, according to Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, provincial police director.

The robbers who fled aboard two motorcycles were cornered by policemen in Barangay Maunong and were killed on the spot, Cruz said. Their identities remained unknown.

Police recovered the woman’s cell phone and Dela Cruz’s gun. Maricar Cinco, Inquirer Southern Luzon

NUEVA ECIJA

19 ‘tuko’ seized

Police and environment officials blocked the transport of 19 geckos, locally known as “tuko,” at a checkpoint in Aliaga town in Nueva Ecija on Wednesday.

Joselito Blanco, community environment and natural resources officer for Nueva Ecija-South, arrested Dennis Gomez, Julie Navarro and Marites Sto. Domingo and sent the geckos seized from them to the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB).

They were charged with violation of Republic Act No. 9147 (Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act), which prohibits the unauthorized collection of wildlife species.

Blanco said the collection of geckos was widespread in the province due to reports that these are sought by foreigners who use them for medical experiments. Armand Galang, Inquirer Central Luzon